OROVILLE — Throughout their increasingly impressive season, the Pleasant Valley High boys soccer team has forcefully racked up victories with aggressive, stingy midfield play, turning massive possession advantages into chances and the goals that tend to come with it.

Lately, the Vikings have found the going much easier at the top of their formation, and that was the case again on Thursday afternoon in an 8-1 overwhelming of Las Plumas at Harrison Stadium.

Porter Sillars scored twice, Ian Melton had a first-minute goal and a pair of assists and PV (14-1-1, 7-0 Eastern Athletic League) bagged four goals in each half, outmatching the Thunderbirds (1-8-1, 1-4-1) from the opening kickoff.

PV performed in its usual role of aggressor, winning first and second balls in the midfield, lording over possession and consistently playing its formidable front line through for goal opportunities. The Vikings' first goal, a neat left-footed flick from Melton that capitalized on a botched clearance, was a product of hustle and grit; everything else for PV afterward was aesthetic, smart and lethal.

"We were able to connect and combine on a lot of passes and get behind the defense. It's great for everyone," Melton said. "We were able to do what we wanted with the ball and conduct the game the way we like. We were able to work on things to get ready for the bigger games."

Surely, the Vikings are playoff-bound and an early favorite to contend for the Northern Section title, now having outscored opponents 68-7. PV got its second goal in the 34th minute when Sillars calmly slotted home to the far post after Melton played him through the left side of LP's back line. A minute later, Melton set up Hernan Rodriguez on a dazzling three-touch series of short passes that started with Sillars. He crossed over to Melton, who poked it forward for Rodriguez in space, all alone for the third PV goal. And, just two minutes later, Adrienne Jauregui found himself with a clear look when Rodriguez's shot wasn't handled in goal, and Jauregui got it right as he booted it home.

It was surely delightful viewing for the objective audience. But even PV coach Mike Vought was impressed with his attackers.

"They do things I never trained them to do. They call it the beautiful game for a reason, and right now we've been fun to watch for a few games," Vought said. "I hate to say they're playing above their heads — I don't think they are — but they're really good right now."

Sillars made it 5-0 early in the second half, when the Vikings were playing with the belligerent wind howling through Harrison. His try at a cross to the box from the left wing instead hung up in the air and curled into the net. Just a minute later, Jauregui added his second goal, and strikes from Daniel Rodriguez and Brandon Sauceda rounded out the scoring for PV.

"If we're lucky enough to get the second and third goals fairly early, in our mind, that's game," Vought said. "I hate to ever blame a weather phenomenon, but wind can really affect a soccer game. We dealt with it well, got some goals and everything went our way."

The Thunderbirds got one back in the 74th minute, when Humberto Garcia got loose and neatly tucked in a low roller to the far post on a tough angle to get LP on the board. It broke up PV's clean sheet, though it was surely cold comfort for the hosts, who were chasing the game from literally the first minute.

"We picked it up and started playing better and putting some goals away," Sillars said. "I'd like to thank all my teammates for working hard and getting the win."